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Chapter 116 The Nine-Tailed Fox Dares to Suppress the Dragon

The Immortal of Dragon Suppression emerged from the cave. His face still faintly revealed the outline of his former captivating beauty, but now, the once dazzling charm between his brows and eyes had been diluted by time, settling into an air of elegance and solitude, with only a trace of ingrained allure occasionally flashing deep in his eyes.

"Jin'er, Yin'er!" She recognized the boy kneeling on the ground at a glance, her voice filled with genuine joy.

"Greetings to our godmother." Jinlu and Yinlu kowtowed respectfully.

"Get up quickly and come in to talk." Immortal Yalong smiled and beckoned.

The two boys were not shy at all, and as if they were coming home, they directly invited Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng into the cave.

The group entered the Yalong Cave. The cave was unexpectedly spacious and clean. There were no elaborate decorations, only a few smooth stone benches, a stone table, and an old landscape painting hanging on the wall.

Yuan Shoucheng's small eyes scanned the surroundings, and when they inadvertently landed on the corner of the stone table, the material of the stone bench, and the seemingly ordinary scroll, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment.

He could tell that these were made from rare immortal materials imbued with Daoist principles and refined from the essence of mountains and rivers, far surpassing ordinary cave dwellings. Inside the cave stood only two or three clever yet quiet little demons, creating an exceptionally aloof atmosphere.

“Your uncle has gone to visit a friend and has been away these days.” Immortal Yalong invited everyone to sit down, his loving gaze falling on the golden furnace and the silver furnace. “Did you finally remember this old bone of mine? You used to come here so often when I was a child, but I haven’t seen you for hundreds of years.”

Jin Lu sat upright and replied, "Godmother, please don't be offended. We have a great responsibility in refining elixirs in the Tushita Palace and rarely have any free time."

Yinlu, holding the jade bottle, nodded hurriedly and added, "Yes, yes, I've been very busy. This time I came down to the mortal realm on the ancestor's orders, specifically to see you."

The Dragon-Suppressing Immortal smiled gently, "Oh? What task could Laozi have entrusted to you so readily?"

She asked the question with a smile, and intentionally or unintentionally brought up the jobs of the two boys.

The two children immediately wilted at the mention of their errand. Yinlu pouted and said rather unhappily,

"The plan was to find that Marshal Tianpeng, Zhu Ganglie, who had been banished to the mortal realm, and summon him back to Heaven to reinstate him. But who knew that guy... was so ungrateful, preferring to be a beast of burden in Gao Village rather than become a marshal in Heaven. It's truly bizarre!"

As he spoke, he recounted his experiences over the past few days, especially about Zhu Bajie, who refused his official position in heaven and insisted on staying in Gao Village.

He got angrier and angrier as he talked. It was a very simple task, but the more he did it, the more he felt something was wrong.

Jin Lu continued, his tone more composed, but a hint of confusion still lingered in his voice: "Later, we went to Guanyin Temple to check the accountant's letters, but we found nothing. This Mr. Chen..."

He looked at Chen Guangrui and suggested that we should prepare an exceptionally luxurious kasaya for the temple. We found some kasaya material, but we were just missing to inlay it with priceless jewels and jade.

The Golden Furnace Boy then revealed the purpose of his visit.

Only now did the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal seem to have just noticed Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng, his gaze sweeping over them indifferently, calm and undisturbed.

She nodded slightly and said to the two boys, "There are always many twists and turns in the affairs of Heaven. There must be a reason why Zhu Bajie gave up his high position as marshal and was willing to be a beast of burden in the mortal world. You must be more careful in your actions and not just do things according to your temper."

After a slight pause, she changed the subject, "Well, I do have some treasures here. But if you're looking to create a 'superior' cassock, I don't have one on hand. However..."

She tapped the table lightly with her fingertip, a knowing smile on her face. "I just learned that the Black Bear Demon has a disciple who is carrying two top-grade pearls to deliver to Bodhisattva Lingji. He just passed through the Yalong Mountain area not far. If you urgently need these rare items to be inlaid on your robes, you should go after him now; you might still be able to get them."

She made it sound so easy, but was the pursuit really a pursuit? And how exactly did she demand it? Beneath the calm surface, there seemed to be a hint of bloodshed.

But when Chen Guangrui heard this, he had a different feeling. How could this black bear spirit be related to Lingji Bodhisattva?

He seemed to have a feeling that although the Black Bear Spirit didn't have many minor demons under his command, why was he everywhere around Black Wind Mountain?
"Godmother, you're so kind!" Yinlu's eyes lit up, and she picked up the bottle and was about to get up.

Jin Lu immediately stood up and bowed respectfully to the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Godmother. We will go find that person now."

Hearing the two boys' praise, the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal was even more pleased. He gently patted the two children's heads and said, "They've gone west. Go after them now, and you'll definitely catch up."

Without saying another word, as if asking for it was only natural, the two rushed out of the cave in a flurry.

Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng instinctively wanted to follow, but the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal waved his hand, his voice gentle yet authoritative, "It's a trivial matter, let the children handle it. You two may sit here for a while."

The two exchanged a glance, a strange feeling flashing through their minds, but they had no choice but to stay as instructed and sit down again. For a moment, only the three of them remained in the cave.

Yuan Shoucheng's eyes darted around, and he leaned half his body behind Chen Guangrui. He didn't say a word, but his body had already unconsciously straightened up.

Chen Guangrui was also puzzled. He had never seen this Dragon-Suppressing Immortal before, and the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal must not have seen him either. Now that she had kept the two of them, it seemed that there was something going on.

But what's going on?

The moment the figures of the golden furnace and the silver furnace disappeared from the cave entrance, the atmosphere inside the cave suddenly froze.

The gentle smile on the face of the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal faded like ripples on water, and the warmth that had been in his eyes vanished, replaced by a coldness and aloofness that came from a person in a superior position.

However, this aloofness seems to have shattered her former unparalleled brilliance; though indifferent, she still possesses a captivating charm that compels one to hold their breath and gaze upon her.

Her cool gaze fell squarely on Chen Guangrui and Yuan Shoucheng.

"You're also from the Tushita Palace?" The voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, carrying a strange penetrating power.

Chen Guangrui felt as if the eyes of the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal had turned into a bottomless vortex. The Silver Furnace Boy's praise, "She is the most beautiful woman in heaven and earth," involuntarily came to mind. His mind was momentarily dazed and confused, and he almost blurted out his agreement with this seemingly irrefutable fact.

Yuan Shoucheng, who was standing to the side, stared intently and answered without thinking, "He is, but I... I am not."

Chen Guangrui also felt his throat go dry and he felt dizzy, almost nodding in agreement to admit that he was from the Tushita Palace.

A faint smile seemed to curve the corners of the Immortal's lips, as if she had everything under control. She no longer looked at the distraught Yuan Shoucheng, but fixed her gaze on Chen Guangrui.
"I have been living in seclusion in this Yalong Cave for a thousand years. I also know the young monk Jinchi of Guanyin Temple. He is a virtuous monk who is pure of heart and devoted to meditation and worshiping Buddha. It is only natural that the two children could not get any results from his interrogation."

Her tone suddenly sharpened, hitting the nail on the head: "What exactly is your purpose in going to such lengths to obtain that magnificent cassock?"

Overwhelmed by immense temptation and intoxicating power, Chen Guangrui felt the thought of "Elder Jinchi coveting the precious cassock" about to burst forth from his mind, almost escaping his lips as he answered the other's question.

Just as the words "coveting treasures" and "I've read Journey to the West" were about to come to his lips, a chill suddenly exploded up from the top of his head!

He instantly snapped to attention, realizing he had been tricked. Cold sweat soaked his vest in an instant, and he forcibly swallowed back the words that were about to spill out.

He forced himself to maintain a blank stare, trying not to let the other person realize that his mind had cleared up, and answered in a slightly slow and confused tone.

"This disciple... feels that Elder Jinchi's actions were too perfect, which seemed unusual... there might be something hidden. Since I have been ordered to assist the two junior immortal officials in their duties, naturally... naturally I want to find out why that pig demon is not going to heaven, so that I can give an explanation to the Ancestor regarding his mission..."

The Immortal of the Dragon Suppression listened quietly. The slight furrow on his usually aloof face slowly relaxed, and a smile bloomed on his lips. This smile was no longer restrained; the breathtaking beauty that had once captivated the Three Realms blossomed in full at this moment!
The entire cave seemed to light up. Chen Guangrui felt as if his heart had been squeezed tightly, and his vision distorted slightly, almost causing him to sink into it again.

"Hehe," the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal's laughter was like pearls falling on a jade plate, carrying a strange allure and satisfaction. "I'm very pleased that you have this inquisitive mind." As the laughter subsided, the allure on her stunning face faded somewhat, replaced by a cold indifference, but her eyes remained sharp as knives.

"In that case, I'll give you a reward. If you can really get something out of that little monk Jinchi on this trip... I'll lend you my treasured 'Golden Rope'."

"However, I think you're likely to be disappointed about this."

Her tone was flat, as if she were talking about something insignificant and ordinary, yet the name contained a terrifying and ferocious power.

"Aren't you going to bring back that troublesome Marshal Tianpeng later? With this rope, you might be able to save some effort."

The Dragon-Suppressing Immortal's words, "I'll lend you the Golden Rope," were spoken calmly, but to Yuan Shoucheng they sounded like a thunderclap.

He shook his head, trying to dispel the momentary daze. His small eyes were full of confusion. He had just blinked, so how did he end up talking about the "golden rope"?

"The Golden Rope?" Yuan Shoucheng muttered, his facial muscles twitching slightly. "W-what Golden Rope? Did I just...miss something?"

He subconsciously looked at Chen Guangrui, trying to find the answer on his face.

Chen Guangrui, who was also in a daze as if he had just "woke up," blinked hard and asked somewhat incongruously, "This... what the immortal called the Golden Rope is... I've never heard of it before."

He tried his best to mimic Yuan Shoucheng's demeanor while searching for crucial information.

At the same time, it was also surprising that this old Taoist Yuan, who always sought good fortune and avoided misfortune, had fallen for a trick here. The seductive arts of the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal were truly masterful!

The nine-tailed fox dared to suppress the dragon, so he must have truly possessed that ability back then.

The Immortal of the Dragon Suppression sat gracefully on the stone bench, his posture still dignified, but a faint trace of emotion flickered in the depths of his eyes, which held a myriad of charms.

She didn't look at Yuan Shoucheng, as if her loss of composure had nothing to do with him, but spoke slowly to Chen Guangrui.

"The celestial beings of Tushita Palace descended to the mortal realm, and I, residing in this small, remote place, have nothing to offer in return. This golden rope," she paused slightly, her slender fingers naturally smoothing a strand of hair behind her ear, the movement carrying an elegance etched into her very bones, "was originally an item from Tushita Palace, which ended up in my possession, so I'm just keeping it safe for now."

She raised her eyes, her gaze settling clearly on Chen Guangrui's face, her tone calm yet firm.
"If you can really get some real clues about Zhu Ganglie from the little monk Jinchi on this trip, proving that he has done something wrong... then this rope will be lent to you for a while to help you get back Marshal Tianpeng. It will be like... returning something to its rightful place. I will not refuse."

"The Golden Rope? Is it really the legendary Golden Rope that binds immortals and gods?"

Yuan Shouchang listened carefully this time and understood. His face instantly turned bright red with excitement, his small eyes widened, and his breathing became rapid. This treasure's reputation was too great; he completely disregarded etiquette, leaning forward almost to pounce on the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal, repeatedly exclaiming...
"Thank you so much, Immortal Master! Scholar Chen, this is an incredible opportunity! What are you still hesitating for? Your kindness is truly immense, a blessing beyond measure. With him, this task is guaranteed to be completed. We've got it all figured out! You just wait... no, no, no, we've got this covered!"

He was so excited that he was incoherent, wishing he could pat Chen Guangrui's chest to make sure he was safe, for fear that this incredible opportunity to "borrow a treasure" would slip away.

Chen Guangrui almost burst out laughing when he saw Yuan Shoucheng's excited expression. He had read Journey to the West and knew that this thing was Laozi's belt.

Even if he was the Taoist priest who tended the fire in the Tushita Palace, he knew that it was fine to "borrow" this thing for a while, but it would be inappropriate to keep it. If Laozi found out that he had been carrying his belt all along, he would be in trouble.

Chen Guangrui maintained a composed and flattered expression, quickly bowing deeply to the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal with a respectful and sincere demeanor.
"Immortal Master's kindness is deeply appreciated. Such a precious treasure is of great help to me that you have lent it to me for a time. I will use it properly to resolve this predicament. Once the matter is settled, I will return it intact."

The Immortal of the Dragon Suppression nodded slightly, accepting his gratitude. Seeing that the two had reached this point in their conversation, she fell silent and picked up her teacup.

Chen Guangrui didn't leave immediately. His mind raced, and he seized the opportunity to ask,

"Immortal Master, there is another matter I would like to ask. The black bear spirit of Black Wind Mountain has lived next door to Elder Jinchi for many years. I wonder if you have heard of this demon? How much do he interact with Elder Jinchi in private? In this search for clues, is it possible to probe him a little?"

Upon hearing the words "Black Bear Spirit," the Immortal Yalong paused, her hand holding the teacup still. She then put the teacup down, her slender fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the smooth stone table. Her tone carried a settled calmness, yet unconsciously revealed a hint of the playful spirit of that great demon from years past:
“The black bear? Hmm… I know.” Her voice was not loud. “Back then, when the monkey was suppressed under the Five Elements Mountain by the Buddha, not many decades later, this bear came to Black Wind Mountain and set up its cave.”

She glanced at Chen Guangrui, a faint smile curving her lips. “This bear is quite something. Instead of being a proper mountain king, he spends all his time studying scriptures, worshipping Buddha statues, and readily helping passing woodcutters and travelers in distress, putting on an air of superiority over even the most virtuous monks.”

She paused slightly, her fingertips tracing an invisible line across the stone table, a hint of amusement tinged with a barely perceptible mockery in her tone.

"However... behind the scenes, there are few deities around this mountain, big and small, such as the land gods, mountain gods, lake gods, and river gods, who haven't received his favors. Spitting out a couple of gold coins or throwing away a few pieces of refined gold ore dug from the mountain is commonplace; he's very good at winning people's hearts."

At this point, her tone changed, returning to its previous calm and indifferent tone, even carrying a hint of detached aloofness, as if she had just been commenting on nothing more than trivial neighborhood matters.
"As for the affairs of your Heavenly Realm, they appear one way on the surface, but operate quite differently underneath. In secret... tsk tsk, who knows what schemes they're plotting? I've lived in seclusion here for many years, and I truly can't understand these intricacies."

She gently shook her head, the movement carrying a lingering allure, only this time a languid charm refined by time.

After finishing his words, the Immortal of the Dragon Suppression seemed to lose interest, and he closed his eyes slightly, with a kind of weariness that showed he understood the ways of the world but was too lazy to delve deeper.

Yuan Shoucheng listened intently, his eyes darting around, his mind already racing with thoughts of "gold coins" and "refined gold ore."

Chen Guangrui frowned slightly, his mind racing with thoughts.
Helping others? Bribing them? What exactly is this black bear spirit after?
A black bear who doesn't behave properly as a monster, but instead dedicates himself to Buddhism and cultivates good karma here for five or six hundred years, must have some big ambitions!

He quickly made a judgment: for the time being, he would not provoke this pool of unknown depth.

Seeing that the Immortal of the Dragon Suppression was no longer willing to speak and seemed to be asking them to leave, the two tactfully got up and took their leave.

The Immortal Yalong did not rise to see them off. Only as Chen Guangrui and his companion turned to leave the cave, did Madam Yalong hand Chen Guangrui a gourd. Her calm voice, tinged with the vicissitudes of time, drifted over, reaching their ears with crystal clarity.

"There are two pills inside. They were excellent pills back then, but their effects have probably faded by eight or nine tenths by now. If you are seriously injured, you can take one; it will still be effective. As for those two children, Jinlu and Yinlu, they are my precious godson. Please take good care of them."
Lady Yalong didn't say anything more, but her meaning was clear. Then, she mentioned a small matter...
"Although I don't have a deep relationship with Jinchi, he has been well-behaved and respectful to those around him during these years, guarding the monastery. His reputation has always been good..."

She paused, her voice softening further, carrying a hint of unspoken advice.

"You can investigate all you want, but if you really don't find anything seriously wrong with him, then don't make things too difficult for him."

After saying that, she immediately added, "Of course, if you really get any clues about the pig demon from him... I keep my word, you can come and get the 'Golden Rope' anytime, I will not refuse."

Clearly, even now, she still believes that Chen Guangrui will not get any results by approaching Elder Jinchi.

The sunlight at the cave entrance was blinding, and the conversation inside the cave behind them had ended. Chen Guangrui turned back for one last look at the Yalong Cave, which appeared cold and quiet in the hazy glow of the sunset, and left quickly with Yuan Shoucheng without saying a word.

A heavy feeling lingered in his heart, the shadow of the black bear spirit, along with the words of the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal: "Who knows what scheme is being orchestrated in the shadows?" It weighed on his heart like a stone.

What has this old bear been doing all these years?

Before he could think it through, the two boys who had "demanded" the treasure had already returned.

Especially the Silver Furnace Boy, who would shout from afar, "I've brought that treasure here!" His boasting was all too obvious.

Now that they had the treasure, Chen Guangrui didn't delay. He took out the kasaya he had prepared beforehand, and then the treasure that the Dragon-Suppressing Immortal had just given him. The two Daoist boys cast a small spell, and the treasures were set into the kasaya. Finally, they added the two gemstones, and everything was done.

Without further ado, we headed straight for Guanyin Temple.

(End of this chapter)